Rep. Gabe Vasquez Demands Immediate Action on Delayed Education Grants in New Mexico
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 26, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) led a letter to Secretary of Education Linda E. McMahon and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought seeking immediate answers regarding delayed Grant Award Notifications (GANs) that jeopardize vital funding of key education programs in New Mexico.
The delays affect funding for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which are administered by colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations across the country, including the University of New Mexico (UNM), New Mexico State University (NMSU), and Northern New Mexico College (NNMC). These programs provide life-changing educational opportunities to students from migrant and seasonal farmworker families, helping them complete their high school education and pursue college degrees.
"If the executive branch continues to withhold this funding, hardworking New Mexican students will lose opportunities to build better lives through education, and teachers will lose their jobs," said Vasquez. "These students are our state's future, and we can't afford to let them down."
HEP helps students who have dropped out of high school earn their High School Equivalency Credential and serves more than 6,000 students annually across the country. CAMP supports approximately 2,400 students nationwide each year in their first year of college with academic, financial, and personal assistance. Nearly three-quarters of CAMP participants go on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, making it one of the most effective support programs of its kind.
In the letter, Vasquez called on Secretary McMahon and Director Vought to provide information on the following:
- When the Department expects to issue GANs for HEP and CAMP grantees
- The cause of the delay in issuing GANs and the steps the Department is taking to resolve it
- Whether the Department will commit to allowing no-cost extensions for programs currently operating without funding certainty
Rep. Vasquez continues to press for transparency and timely action to ensure New Mexican students are not left behind.
Full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear Secretary McMahon and Director Vought:
We write to express our deep concern about the delay in issuing Grant Award Notifications (GANs) for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). As of today, the Department of Education has not released GANs for Fiscal Year 2025, despite Congress having already authorized and appropriated funding for these critical programs. We urge that you remedy this situation as quickly as possible, not only to support these students but also the teachers and universities that support them.
Each of our offices has met with current and former students about the importance and impact of the HEP and CAMP. Hearing their stories highlighted how these programs provide life-changing educational opportunities to students from migrant and seasonal farmworker families, helping them complete their high school education and pursue college degrees. These programs were designed to support some of the hardest-working and most underserved students in our communities, and they have a proven track record of success. Nearly three-quarters of CAMP participants go on to earn a bachelor’s degree.
In New Mexico, the University of New Mexico (UNM), New Mexico State University (NMSU), and Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) utilize HEP and CAMP funding to support students who are first-generation college students, many of whom are the children of farmworkers. At UNM, these programs have been operating for over two decades - CAMP since 2001 and HEP since 2002. They support over 100 students annually and provide employment to 8 full-time staff and 10-12 student workers. At NMSU, HEP and CAMP programs also serve a vital student population and support approximately 124 students, 5 full-time staff, and 20 student workers each year. NNMC has 5 full-time staff who serve 30 first-year college students, along with 11 student workers who keep the program running.
Without immediate action from the Department, all three institutions will face serious disruptions in service and potential staffing cuts. These programs cannot operate without knowledge of their FY25 funding. Timely notice of continued funding is critical - not just for budgeting and staffing, but for student outreach and program continuity. Delays will harm the very students these programs are meant to empower.
We respectfully request answers to the following questions no later than June 27, 2025:
- When does the Department expect to issue GANs for HEP and CAMP grantees?
- What is causing the delay in GAN issuance, and how is the Department addressing it?
- Will the Department commit to allowing no-cost extensions for programs that are currently operating without funding certainty?
We urge you to prioritize the timely release of GANs for HEP and CAMP. These programs serve students who have overcome enormous barriers, and they deserve better than silence and uncertainty from the very agency that is supposed to support them.
Sincerely,
Gabe Vasquez
Member of Congress
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